You Can Use Conditioner to Unshrink Your Favorite Sweater

We've all been there, looking distraught and dumbfounded while standing in front of the dryer clutching our favorite sweater that now looks like it'll fit our daughter's Barbie doll. We knew to separate the whites from the darks, and we knew to throw in a cute and tiny Tide pod, but somehow our sweater is now doll-sized and there's nothing we can do about it.

Until now, that is! Pick your lip up off the floor: There's an easy way to unshrink your clothes, and all you need is a little hair conditioner.

How to Unshrink Clothes With Conditioner

You know that mostly-full bottle of conditioner that's been sitting in the shower for the past few months? Grab it and find a measuring cup. Once you have your tools — and your poor mangled sweater — fill 1/3 of the cup with hair conditioner. Fill your sink with lukewarm water and plop in the conditioner.

Soak your shrunken sweater in water for 10 to 15 minutes. Drain the sink and squeeze out as much water as you can. Once you're done squeezing, refrain from rinsing the sweater with clean water.

Lay the sweater out on a flat surface. Use a towel to absorb more water. Drape the sweater over a drying rack and wait for it to air-dry, and presto! You've got a brand-new sweater fit for a normal-sized human.

Check out Howcast's video for a step-by-step tutorial:

If you're out of hair conditioner, a bottle of baby shampoo will work. Just be sure to lay the garment out on a flat surface before air-drying — this will keep its shape. You can even pin it down if you'd like.